Ukraine has said it wants to strengthen human rights during its term – while facing criticism for its own democratic credentials.
Opposition leader Tymoshenko was sentenced to seven years imprisonment in a trial that drew wide international criticism. As a result, she was unable to take part in parliamentary elections in late October, which the OSCE observer mission declared to be unfair and a “step backwards.”
Susan Stewart at the Berlin-based German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP) also believes that Ukraine’s reputation has suffered in recent years because of human rights violations and backpedalling on democracy. “That’s why I think it will be difficult for Ukraine to exercise strong leadership,” Stewart said.
Ukraine is the second former Soviet republic to assume the OSCE presidency after Kazakhstan in 2010, which paved the way. But Kazakhstan was also criticized for human rights violations.
The OSCE was created during the Cold War to serve as a forum for dialogue between the warring blocs in the East and West. Today, the Vienna-based organization unites 57 nations from Europe, Central Asia and North America. It fights terrorism, seeks to resolve conflicts and helps protect the environment. Observing human rights and fundamental freedoms is a key part of OSCE’s security concept.
Old divisions threaten to paralyze its work.

Complete Article – Roman Goncharenko – Deutsche Welle
OSCE-Ukraine

 Ukraine’s representative at the negotiations on the Transdniestrian conflict settlement, Ihor Kharchenko has said that the Transdniestrian conflict settlement will be the No. 1 priority during Ukraine’s presidency of the OSCE in 2013.

 The parliamentary election in Ukraine will be “transparent and democratic,” President Victor Yanukovych has said. Following an example from Russia, Ukraine has installed webcams in all polling stations for maximal transparency.
The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has sent 635 election observers to the country – more than ever before. In total, some 3,800 foreign observers monitor the vote. But only 8.8 percent of Ukrainians say the ballot will be fair, according to the Kiev-based Democratic Initiative Fund.
“The significant lack of political pluralism on television is very worrisome and requires immediate action,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton highlighted in a statement. The elections “will be a litmus test of Ukraine’s democratic credentials.”
The last time that Ukraine had a mixed election system – electing half of its 450 members of parliament in geographic districts, the other half through party lists – was 2002. Ten years ago, the opposition did well on the party lists, but failed to muster a majority after doing poorly in the single-mandate districts. Experts think that history will repeat itself.
The parliamentary vote marks the halfway point in Yanukovych’s first presidential term. Yanukovych’s approval rating is 12.6 percent, down from 37.8 percent in 2010, according to the Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies.
Polls suggest his party, the Party of Regions, will preserve its hold on the 450-seat legislature. The Party of Regions has 23.3 percent backing, compared with 16 percent for world boxing champion Vitaly Klitschko’s UDAR, 15.1 percent for Tymoshenko’s Fatherland and 10.1 percent for the Communists.
Control of Parliament will also be a major factor in the higher-stakes presidential contest in 2015. Vitali Klitschko the leader of the opposition UDAR party, seems to be a new future candidate with good chances to win. 
  Andriy Shevchenko, 36, a former AC Milan striker, runs for Ukraine Forward, which aims to pass parliament’s 5 percent entry barrier. That’s hurting opposition united under jailed ex-Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko and improving the prospects of Party of Regions.
The country has become increasingly isolated since Yanukovich’s election in a runoff with  Tymoshenko in 2010. And financial analysts say that the country’s economy is in trouble again as a result of flagging demand in Europe, particularly for steel, Ukraine’s main export.